Matthew 13:1-16 ~ fulfilled

Christ and Wealthy Young Man, Painting by Heinrich Hoffman

Matthew 13:1-16

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, [to hear] let him hear.”

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah [6:9,10] is fulfilled that says:

“‘You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

~ fufilled

The human meaning is earthly happiness brought about by capability. Abundant living to God, the cup that runs over in Psalm 23. Gratitude for all God has brought about, having goodness and mercy being the fruit of our actions.

I once had a dream about my paternal grandmother, about 10 years after she had passed on, about 1995. It was one of the dreams people have that make an impact on the rest of your life. In my first nativity set when I was four years old, a beautiful clay set, I pointed out to my mother that the angel in the set looked like my (living) grandmother. We got out photos of my grandmother in her 50s, and the angel did look like her.

I had really been wanting to tell Grandmother new things in my life, both hard and good. In my dream, I was on vacation in the South Western portion of the USA. I looked over and my Grandmother was in our house looking just like the angel of my nativity set. I got to speak with her and the impact of my dream - the same comfort, the same love, but my wonderful Grandmother had so much, so very much of something I did not know she lacked - she was completely and utterly fulfilled. Grandmother was the cup that runneth over in Psalm 23. My wonderful dream made me realize and set my mind on Heaven being all the things promised to us in Scripture.

Jesus Christ, John 1 tells us, is God's Word made flesh. Imagine the joy in Jesus' daily life, at the age of 12 the Scriptures record Jesus loved to talk about His Father and His Word. Each day of Jesus' ministry, Jesus understood, loved and enjoyed His ministry fulfilling God's plan. Jesus living in in His Father's plan had the eyes to see, the ears to hear God's will being fulfilled.

Father God, thank you for Your love always with us. Each day help us to be the children of God. Help us to be like Jesus, the ones who see with gratitude the work of God You are doing in our lives. Open our eyes, our ears and our heart to see with the faith You give us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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